Coleg Gwent Governor Guide

Lead Greatness

... be a Coleg Gwent Governor

Welcome from the Chair

'As one of the largest and top performing colleges in Wales, Coleg Gwent delivers academic and vocational courses to around 18,000 learners every year. It's a privilege to be Chair of Governors, helping to lead an organisation that changes lives for the better and plays such an important role in the local community. As a Board we are incredibly proud of the College, its staff and especially, our students.

The Board is responsible for setting the educational character of the college, ensuring financial sustainability and providing strategic oversight. We act as a 'critical friend' to the College management team, scrutinising and holding them to account, but also helping to identify solutions and ways to improve.

Volunteering your time and skills as a Governor is a truly fulfilling way to 'give back' and support the community - it's a role I thoroughly recommend.'

Mark Langshaw MBE
Chair of Governors

We have big ambitions...

Our Mission

To Change Lives through Learning

Our Vision

By 2026 Coleg Gwent will be the college of choice, actively working with our communities, where all learners and staff are treated with respect, achieve their full potential and benefit from the best resources in an inspirational learning environment.

...you could help us achieve them

Delivering excellence

Three academic faculties operate across five unique campuses:

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone

Torfaen Learning Zone

City of Newport

Click on the images to find out more about each campus

Crosskeys

Usk

Coming soon... HiVE, Ebbw Vale

We offer something for everyone

Our full-time learners are mainly school leavers who study A Levels or vocational subjects (or both), but a significant number are adult learners looking to retrain.

Part-time learning offers flexibility and the opportunity to study on campus or at one of the community venues we operate in partnership with five Local Authorities. Other part-time provision includes Welsh for Adults.

We deliver Apprenticeships in a range of sectors including Construction, Digital, Engineering, Motor Vehicle and Health Care.

Our Employer Engagement Team works closely with businesses to ensure our courses meet the needs of local employers and our students develop skills for the workplace. We also deliver a wide range of professional training that can be tailored to the needs of individual businesses.

We offer a growing range of university level courses

Click on the images to find out just how diverse our courses are

Our senior leadership team

At Coleg Gwent we are committed to excellence in leadership and governance. The college is led by the Principal/Chief Executive, supported by the Vice Principals and a team of senior leaders, each responsible for an academic or functional area. They work closely with the Board in a productive relationship that supports our strategic goals.

"I greatly value the contribution of Board members to the College. The Governors provide a range of fresh perspectives and as a senior leadership team we benefit from their different expertise, experiences and insight.

The level of challenge provided at Board and committee meetings ensures that we are never complacent, that we remain focused on continuous quality improvement and that we've thought of every eventuality".

Guy Lacey
Principal/Chief Executive

Our Governors

Governors, much like non-executive directors, sit on the Board and use their experience and skills to oversee the college and help shape its future.

The role brings with it a number of legal responsibilities and it can involve challenging management or making difficult decisions. Ultimately though, effective governance is essential for the college's success.

Our 22 Governors are unpaid volunteers and include 16 independent members recruited from across the region, as well as elected staff and students.

With responsibility for a turnover of c£60m, the Board needs Governors with a range of skills and expertise. Many of them come from local businesses and this provides us with good insight into what skills and qualifications employers are looking for. Each Governor also brings their own unique life experiences and viewpoints to our discussions and decision-making.

Click to find out more about our Governors

The Board's responsibilities

Under the leadership of the Chair, the Board is legally responsible for:

* Determining the educational character and mission of the college

* Overseeing college activities

* Approving the Strategic Plan

* Approving an annual budget

* Ensuring the efficient & effective use of resources

* Ensuring the proper use of public funds

* Ensuring the financial sustainability of the college

* The employment and conditions of service of senior post holders

* Setting a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all other staff

* Reviewing arrangements for the academic work of the college.